Delays for drivers over landslip work

Rubble was left strewn across a busy road in a Shropshire town centre after a landslip which led to delays for motorists.

Part of Phoenix Bank in Market Drayton had to be closed following the landslip.

It was caused by a section of the wall behind St Mary's churchyard giving way, allowing rubble to be dislodged. Temporary traffic lights have now been put in place to allow traffic through safely.

Highways chiefs from Shropshire Council said today that the lights would remain in place until repair work has been completed.

But the work could be delayed while the council tries to establishes ownership of the land affected.

Council chiefs said they had been unable to make any headway on repair work as discussions are being carried out with a nearby landowner regarding the ownership the land.

They said a repair scheme is in the design stages but the temporary traffic lights will remain in place until the work is completed.

John Williams, Shropshire Council's team leader for structures, said: "We are currently in discussions with the nearby landowner regarding the ownership of the land and we have asked our consultants, Mouchel, to design a repair scheme.

"A ground investigation will need to be carried out to determine the cause of the landslip before any repair work can start.

"The traffic lights, put in place to ensure people's safety, will remain until this repair work has been completed."

The latest landslip comes two years after parts of the wall, just yards from the latest incident, caused the embankment to collapse.

In January 2008 a team of abseilers was called in to help with the clean-up operation and to ensure that the embankment was safe.

Back then engineers had to remove debris after the landslip at the steep slope, which connects the town centre and the southbound A529.

It took more than a week to fully reopen the road, clear away debris and shore up the wall.

By Tom Johannsen